Presentation Presented by Economist Elmer Esplana during the BIMP-EAGA 1st Agribusiness Cluster Meeting, Hotel Centro, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines, June 18, 2013

Presentation of Economist Elmer Esplana at the BIMP-EAGA 1st Agribusiness Cluster, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, June 18, 2013

A challenge for organized farmers and fisherfolk and agribusiness groups for the advancement of Agro-industry and Food Security in the Philippines

A challenge for organized farmers and fisherfolk and agribusiness groups for the advancement of Agro-industry and Food Security in the Philippines

by Elmer R. Esplana, advocate of agricultural and agribusiness development in the Philippines, and Focal Person, Agrikulturang Maunlad, June 29, 2013 

It  is easier for Pinoy farmers and fisherfolk to avail the production and post-harvest support services through the different government agencies or support services office of these Departments (Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industy (DTI), Department of Science and Technogy (DOST), etc),  if you are currently organized into an organization (e.g. a cooperative, producers' association, federation of farmers or fisherfolk, association of agribusiness entrepreneurs, etc.) rather than isolating from any group or not mainstreaming from any available industry organization which are already existing, cut across the different commodities. You can take a look at some of the example associations such as Propork, Pork Producers Federation in the Philippines for the hog groups; UBRA or United Brioler and Raisers' Associaiton for broiler chicken groups; Philmaize of Philippine Maize Federation for corn groups, to name some or any local or regional-based farmers and fisherfolk organization in your area. There are the examples of SIDCI or Soro-soro Ibaba Development Cooperative in Batangas, or Catmon Multi-purpose Cooperative in Bulacan, to name some.

Organized groups serve as support system of farmers and fisherfolk in the agriculture sector. Collaboration, cooperation, interdependence,  and partnership are trend nowadays,  that is the reason why there is a PPP program in the government or what we call as the Public-Private-Partnership Program.  With an organized and legitimized group, meaning, the group or organization has to be registered in SEC or it is a legal entity, with BIR registered receipt, ready to conduct business or accept grants, loans, etc. from whoever are interested to partner with your organization in the process of doing your business, and pursuing the goals of the organization..

Organized group benefits from a collaboration and cooperation from among their members by sharing of resources, information, technology, and any available loan and financial assistance, e.g. ACEF or Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, specifically for DA, and any regular program like the National Commodity (Agri-Pinoy) Program for the different commodities, be it rice, corn, livestock, poultry, high-value crops, organic/natural farmed products, etc. in the national or regional offices, and your local government units (provincial, municipality, city, etc).

Upon the availability of this program in your areas, you can apply to be considered as beneficiaries, and if you are qualify, and you hurdle their requirements or have passed in the selection of the intended beneficiaries, you get the benefits of the program, but first you have to apply and before you apply, your responsibility is to be organized or make your own agribusiness enterprise, that could  thrive as a legitimate business entity. Support to collective and organized group and agribusiness organization has a potential higher impact or socio-economic impact than in any single individual person getting the benefit of a program, one at a time.  Giving  a support of a program from the individual person is expensive and laborious in terms of the implementation of the any program or project. It is also harder to get  the accountability for any payback scheme of the investment of the government, in general, from an individual beneficiary of a certain program in production and post-harvest, rather than an organized group, unless you really have evolved as a successful enterprise/farm/company which are also qualified for any support by any program, if you will pass the requirements of the program, but you have to apply. "Ask and you will receive" as the Bible says.  Apply and if you have the merit, as potential beneficiary, you will get the benefit of the program or project.  As a regular requirement, a project proposal or a feasibility study is always asked from the applicant's side for the government to assess, if the potential business or social venture or your business idea or model have the merit and have the potential to succeed, if it will be supported and of course, if it fits to be included as part of the program.   There are also Industry Commodity Roadmaps in the different commodities which discussed and identified how the government will prioritize  any commodity support in production and post-harvest and supply chain improvement  intervention cut across commodities.  You can study the trends why DA, DOLE, DTI,  DOST preferred an organized farmers and fisherfolk groups or an organized agribusiness establishment/organization because that is the best option where government resources in agricultural and agribusiness development could be provided for. As a country, we need to improve the performance of the agriculture sector and to make the different industries in the agriculture competitive, capable of exporting any available competitive products in the international market, to increase our country's trade receipt, along the side of providing products for the domestic consumption. 

So why wait, when you can prepare to organize a group by yourself, if you desire and have the guts, legitimized the group into an organization with your fellow farmers  and fisherfolk or agribusiness stakeholders, and when the time comes, you can avail the support services available, cut across the agencies that are providing them in the current Aquino (P-Noy) administration.  Make yourself available by preparing your organization for a higher level of challenge or even higher benefits and opportunities.  It is important that each stakeholder among the farmers and fisherfolk groups could contribute in the sustained local and national development in the agriculture, agribusiness and food sectors in the next five or more years. Keep the fire burning! The new generation of Pinoy Yan type of  farmers and fisherfolk and agribusiness entrepreneurs are now multiplying for the advancement of the Philippine economy. Be proud to each other or to anyone, because that is the new Pinoy Yan figher mentality, with the end in mind or the united vision for the country as a "Prosperous rural organized farmers and fisherfolk, and communities  that build sustained livelihood of farmers and fisherfolk and profitable agribusiness organization, cut across the supply chain of different commodities that provide surplus for agro-industry and food security." Build your legacy Pinoy farmers and fisherfolk  through an organized agribusiness organization for the agricultural and agribusiness development of the Philippines!  

Acknowledgement:

I would like to acknowledge the vision of the agribusiness development plan which was set in Strategic Agribusiness Development Plan (SADP), where the revised vision was taken as new united vision of the Philippine agriculture and agribusiness sector. It was drafted by SADP Team, Department of Agriculture and supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency, where the author is one of the commodity writers of this material published in February and October 2009.

For any comments, please email me at elmer.esplana@gmail.com or digitalpinoy2038@gmail.com

Philippines to host 1st BIMP-EAGA Agribusiness Cluster Meeting

Philippines to host 1^st BIMP-EAGA Agribusiness Cluster Meeting

The Philippines will be hosting the 1^st Brunei-Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines - East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Agribusiness Cluster Meeting on 18-20 June 2013 at Hotel Centro in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines.

The meeting aims to present and discuss updates/developments and identify necessary next steps in the implementation of flagship programs and projects reflected in the Rolling Pipeline 2013-2014 as well as the other priorities of the Cluster.

Among the priority projects of the Cluster under the Rolling Pipeline 2013-2014, include: (a) Joint Venture on the Production of Hybrid Rice Seeds; (b) Seaweed Development Project (Export Development and Harmonization of Seaweed Good Aquaculture Practices Standards) (c) Information exchange through the establishment of a web-enabled Food Security Information Management System (FSIMS); and (d) Conduct of 2nd BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT Agriculture Conference in 2014.

Other priority projects of the Cluster are:  (i) Strengthening of the Smallholder Coconut Based Industries; (ii) Sulu Celebes Sea Sustainable Fisheries Management Project; and (iii) Establishment of BIMP-EAGA Food, Agribusiness and Logistics Corridor, among others.

The Agribusiness Cluster is anchored on the food basket strategy of BIMP-EAGA which focuses on three major themes, namely: food security, export development and, sustainable development.

The Cluster is currently being headed by the Philippines with Secretary Proceso Alcala of the Department of Agriculture seating as the Cluster Chairperson.

Around 100 participants coming from the four (4) member countries of BIMP-EAGA are expected to attend the subject meeting. Participants will be coming from the government and private sector as well as representatives from the local government units in BIMP-EAGA.

After the 2-day meeting, guests will be given the opportunity to see the wonders of Palawan including the world renowned Puerto Princesa Underground River.

Source: http://www.foodsecurity.eaga.da.gov.ph

Establishment of Web-enabled Food Security Information Management System in BIMP-EAGA: A Bilateral Proposal of the Philippines with Indonesia

Elmer R. Esplana[1]

elmer.esplana@gmail.com

Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Department of Agriculture (DA)

Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on the development of a project on the establishment of a web-enabled Food Security Information Management System (FSIMS) in Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).  The project proposal was presented at the 9^th BIMP-EAGA Natural Resource Development (NRD) Cluster Meeting in April 2011 in Brunei Darussalam with the intention of developing a web-enabled FSIMS for the four-member countries of BIMP-EAGA.  It was approved in the Working Group and Cluster meeting by the four member countries.  But later, during the same year the Agro-industry and Fisheries Cooperation Working Group core members suggested a piloting the project between the Philippines and the Indonesia. A bilateral proposal was submitted to Indonesia for their comments at the 10^th BIMP-EAGA NRD Cluster Meeting last May 2012 in Balikpapan City, Indonesia and as part of the update of the initially presented concept paper in Brunei. The proposal was accepted in principle by Indonesian representatives in the meeting but with further comments to be submitted from the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, as their official counter proposal/comments for the bilateral proposal. In February 2012, the Phase 1 bilateral proposal of the project was submitted to the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund with the support of Mindanao Development Authority Philippine -EAGA Secretariat.  In August 2012, a notice of interest for funding the said proposal was submitted to the Department of Agriculture by the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to ASEAN through the proponent with some improvement to be prepared for re-submission. In this study, the researcher discusses developments of this BIMP-EAGA system and the challenges of initially implementing the project for both the Philippines and Indonesia, as part of the contribution of this sub-regional initiative to the ASEAN.  Based on the analysis, some related indicators on food security on the regional level should be strengthened, particularly on tracking the beginning stock based on establishments, sources of food security information and related indicators, as part of the indicators to be monitored, as integral part of the food security information management system.  The paper provides recommendations on how to fast-track the pilot implementation of the project in the Philippines and Indonesia, given the initial discussion and communications with each other on the proposed bilateral project on food security information management system. 

KEYWORDS: Food Security, Information Management System, web-enabled, bilateral, BIMP-EAGA, ASEAN, Philippines, Indonesia, NRD Cluster, Phase 1

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[1] Agriculturist II, Marketing Development Division of BAI, Project Coordinator of Japan 2KR Livestock “Oksyon” Market (LOM) Rehabilitation and Modernization Project in the Philippines and Secretariat Coordinator, National Price and Volume Watch, Bureau of Animal Industry, Department of Agriculture.  Presented at the Philippine Statistical Association Annual Conference, Apo View Hotel, Davao City, Philippines, August 17, 2012.    

Commentary, Challenges and Encouragement for extending $1B loan to IMF by the Philippines

Commentary, Challenges and Encouragement for Extending 

$ 1B loan to IMF by the Philippines 

By Elmer R. Esplana,  Socio-economist, Interdisciplinary Researcher  and Social Entrepreneur,  June 23, 2012

For any comments on the article, please email me at digitalpinoy2038@gmail.com or text me at +63922-8117367

Let me share this good news to you.

Philippines to extend $1B to IMF

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

THE Philippines will extend $1-billion loan to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to support the global efforts to stabilize the world economy and maintain it on a growth path, the central bank said on Wednesday.

"We are a member of the global community of nations and it is also in our interest to ensure economic and financial stability across the globe," said Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr.

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The Philippines is a member of the IMF, which uses the contributions from its members to provide loans to countries going through financial difficulties to minimize its adverse impact on their people.

For nearly 40 years until 2006, the Philippines itself was a net borrower from the IMF.

The Philippines fully paid its loans to IMF in December 2006 as the implementation of continuing reforms have made the local economy stronger, Tetangco said.

He said the country's economic fundamentals are now sound, the local banks are able to meet domestic credit needs, and the central bank is capable of lending $1 billion from its international reserves to the IMF.

"This is a loan to the IMF and we will get our money back with interest. In effect, by extending a loan to the IMF that will earn money for the Philippines we are also able to help other nations saddled with financial problems. Other nations have also committed to help IMF address the current financial crisis," Tetangco said. (SDR/Sunnex)

Source:

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/business/2012/06/20/philippines-extend-1b-imf-227850#.T-VINtYZLtM.facebook

Commentary

This good news is something to be noted by each one, specially by our fellow Filipino citizens. At least the Philippines has been learning to take the social responsibility aspect of helping also other countries, in the process of extending this loan to International Monetary Fund (IMF). Hopefully,we can also have the equivalent institution that provides Official Development Assistance (ODA) to other countries, as our equivalent institution that handles the economic, development and humanitarian assistance to other countries in need of our support in the likes of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

Challenges

Can the Philippines be included to the listing of "developed" country or "more economically developed country" in the succeeding 20 to 30 years or longer years than that e.g., another 50 years or a centennial year, if the current improvement or development in the Philippine economy will continue? 

Encouragement 

I am encouraging my fellow FILIPINOS to collectively contribute in our goals to further improve the Philippines economy in the succeeding years to come, by maximizing the utilization of technical skills/expertise, entrepreneurial ability/business management capability, capital resources, scientific and technological facility and infrastructure to the fullest in further developing the country's economy. God is good all the time! I love the Philippines! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Mabuhay ang Filipino! Pilipinas Yan!

Statement of Pledge for the Philippines

"We, the citizens of the Philippines and inhabitants of this country, PLEDGE OURSELVES as one united people, regardless of language and local dialect, provincial, regional and  racial differences, political affiliation, and religion; to build a democratic, God-fearing, peace-loving, collaborative and interdependent society based on justice (we need to strengthen the justice system and implementation of laws, policies, rules and regulations, etc.), equality (let’s all work together as a team and become a team player with our individual inclination, talent, skill, expertise), good governance (transparency, accountability, performance, competence, etc.), nationalism, discipline, participation, prayer, faith and sacrifice, so we can contribute for the advancement of our country's societal challenges, needs and concerns (family, work, profession, economic, social, political and spiritual aspects, etc.) at the right time, right place and with the right purpose; and to aim to become “Champion” in the individual God-given calling that we are in, so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation." - Agrikulturang Maunlad, February 28, 2011

Pinoy Yan Sharing Time Series No. 5 and onwards

Pinoy Yan Sharing Time Series No. 5 and onwards

Pinoy Yan Sharing Time No. 6: Lets continue to work hard bearing in mind our family, our fellow Filipinos (Mga Kababayans), our God, our country and other nations of the world, so we can contribute effectively and efficiently for the advancement of local and national development in different parts of the country and in the different parts of the world in the succeeding five to twenty years. We promote and contribute for the development of new breed of Filipino workers and entrepreneurs (employers) from "Pinoy Kase!" to "PINOY YAN!" Mabuhay ka Pinoy Yan Movement! Pinoy, you are great people indeed (In commemoration of Labor Day 2012, May 1, 2012)


Pinoy Yan Sharing Time No. 5: I have a dream today that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain and the crooked places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together... With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. - (Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr, August 28, 1963, lifted from The March on Washington Address, from the book titled Great American Speeches, edited by Gregory R. Suriano, Random House. NY:1993). The Philippines and the Filipinos in order to achieve a higher level of socio-economic growth and development should rise as a united state of people-loving, peace-loving, purpose-loving, education and health-loving, environment-loving, competitive-loving, justice-loving, righteous-loving, and God-loving citizens to attain an improved local, regional and national economic prosperity in the next five to 20 years. Let's give our part to attain this dream and become a great brown race of Asian country because Pinoy Yan! God is good all the time! - April 14, 2012

Inspirational Quotations from the Facebook of Socio-economist Elmer Esplana

April 1, 2012
First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality (Napoleon Hill- 1883-1970). Enthusiasm engages our commitment, and commitment create personal power. Nothing happens until you do something. Asking for help- is doing something (Robin Sieger, Natural Born Winners, 2004). The infinite God cannot be measured by finite man (ODB, RBC Ministries, 2008).

March 24, 2012
How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these (George Washington Carver). The beauty of life is we will all be passing through in His stages one day at a time! Let's all make the most out of all God's life's stages, as we move on in the coming days! God is good all the time!

March 18, 2012
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago (Psalm 77:11). Lord, You are good to all, that even your only Son-Jesus Christ- became the payment for all the sins that we have done in this life. We thank you for the miracles of life, that we can face the day and the future with enthusiasm because we know you are alive. You are faithful to all your promises and great in your mercy and grace for the Philippines and all Filipinos throughout the world.

March 16, 2012
If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door (Milton Berle,a comedian). Right opportunity will always there, but we have to be ready to receive them anytime, when we want it to be included as part of our life. The decision to get the right opportunity lies in our conviction and desire to contribute in the advancement of His purpose or mission in our life. God is the giver of right opportunity and whatever opportunity He started in our lives He will accomplish his purpose in that opportunity in the right time. We just need to be sensitive in getting the right opportunity, because it will always come from Him, anyway! This is the power of His grace and mercy upon each one. Thank you Lord!

March 11, 2012
One learns people through the heart, not the eyes or the intellect (Mark Twain). People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care...about them! Love is caring-caring enough to invest your life,to give it your all, to stick it out, to do the best you possibly can (Zig Ziglar et. al, Top Performance:How to develop excellence in yourself and others).

March 4, 2012
It is motive alone that gives character to the actions of men (Bruyere). A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder (Thomas Carlyle). For a good man/woman, the purpose of motivation is the motivation of the purpose which transform and transcend challenges into opportunities to serve other people.

March 1, 2012
How blessed is the man (woman) who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers...his delights is in the law of the Lord...He is like a tree firmly planted by the streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; And whaterver he does, he prospers (Psalms 1:1-3). God is our protector and our Saviour in this life. He is good all the time for all His people, throughout the different generations. Let us keep on doing good all the time, because He watches us always and forever.

February 18, 2012
Not everyone can be famous, but everybody can be great because greatness is determined by what you (we) do (Oprah Winfrey). In all the things that we do, what matters most is how these things contribute to the advancement of His Kingdom in our lives, family, society, people and country! God is our judge in all things! He is the main reason for our living on earth! Salamat sa kanyang katapatan!